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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Mike=20Ado?= <mrmaddo5@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: mankado@live.com
Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2008 06:19:20 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Very urgent and important


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: mrmaddo5@yahoo.in

>From Mr.Mike Addo

Eco Bank Ltd

No 12 Ridge Layout

Accra Ghana

12th Dec.2008

+233 27 618 9863

- Dear Friend. Greetings to you in the name of our heavenly God.This mail might come to you as a surprise and the temptation to ignore it as unserious could come into your mind; but please, consider it a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility. I am Mr.Michael Ado the branch manager of Eco Bank Ltd. No 12 Ridge Layout Accra Ghana. I am 52 years old married Man with five lovely kids. I am a Ghananian, honest and humble.I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit both of us, as the regional manager of Eco Bank LTD. It is my duty to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end of each business year.On the course of the last year 2007 business report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made USD$14,680,000.00 (Fourteen million six hundred and eighty thousand united state dollars) which my head office are not aware of and will never be aware of. I have placed this funds on what we call escrow call account with no beneficiary. As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, so my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this money in your bank account and get 30% of the total funds as your commission.I am also willing to invest my own part of the money into any moving business in your country after the accomplishment of this project.There are practically no risks involved, it will be a bank to bank transfer, and all I need from you is to stand and claim as the original depositor of these funds who made the deposit with my branch so that my head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account.I will be very happy if you will be willing to work with me on this project. Mail me if you think we can work together so that we can forge ahead.Thank you in advance and May God bless you and your family. Yours Sincere, Mr. Mike Ado.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam